Middle Tennessee State University, Graduate Business Studies History

Middle Tennessee State University, founded in 1911, is a public, coeducational institution. The 500-acre campus is located in a small town 32 miles southeast of Nashville. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 22,000.

The Graduate Business Studies was founded in 1967 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, Jennings A. Jones College of Business. Courses also are offered at Franklin and Smyrna. The basic educational approach is a mix of theoretical and case methods.

Middle Tennessee State University, Graduate Business Studies Academics

The Graduate Studies offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Accounting and Information Systems (MSAIS). Other programs include foreign exchange with France, internships, and joint research. The strongest area of study is computer information systems. The most popular courses are International Management and Marketing. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus.

Thirty-six total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Accounting and Business Decisions
• Managerial Economics
• Financial Analysis
• Information Systems Management and Applications
• Study of Organizations
• Seminar in Operations Management
• Marketing Management
• Business Policy Substitutions are permitted for equivalent course work under certain conditions.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The maximum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full or part time is 6 years.

There are 120 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 95% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 9; average business class size is 25.

Middle Tennessee State University, Graduate Business Studies Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 800,000 volumes, and subscribes to 3400 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as Bitnet, Compustat, and ABI/INFORM. Other opportunities for research consist of the Business and Economics Research Center, which publishes a monograph series, a reprint series, and a bimonthly journal, Tennessee Business and Economics Review.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs.The University Computer Center has a Honeywell DPS-8/49D computer, accessible to all students through some 130 terminals, which are located in 2 computer labs and open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight. PCs and word processing equipment are also available for academic use at the same hours.

Career and Job Placement

Majors most in demand by companies recruiting in 2006 were computer information systems and accounting. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $50,000; range was $35,000 to $65,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 50%
• regional corporations 35%
• local large enterprises 10%
• local small enterprises 5%

Placement services for alumni include a directory. Placement is available through the university placement office. Ninety-five percent of the most recent graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degree.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health, and proof of adequate funds. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of assistantships. The application deadline for fall entry is open.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 4 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

Middle Tennessee State University, Graduate Business Studies Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (GPA x 200) + GMAT, or minimum 950. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results and grades in upper-level courses. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for a recent class was 145; 130 were accepted; 115 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.2; average GMAT score was 490. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by off-site recruitment efforts.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, and a nonrefundable application fee of $25. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; April 1, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is June 30. Once accepted, students may defer admission and update their application for future admission.

Middle Tennessee State University, Graduate Business Studies Financial Aid

About 10% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $9100 annually. Stipends and programs are available for minority students through the graduate dean’s office. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for in-state residents is $238 per credit, or $2250 per year. Nonresidents pay $606 per credit, or $6494 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $2500; books and supplies, $400; and other fees, $300, for an estimated annual total of $5450 for in-state residents and $9694 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing includes apartments and married student housing. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Middle Tennessee State University, Graduate Business Studies Students

Thirty-five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 80% have had an average of 5 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school. The greatest percentage of students are from Tennessee (85%). Forty-six percent are women, 10% are minorities, and 10% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 25; ages range from 23 to 50. Fifteen percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 65%, business; 10%, economics; 10%, liberal arts; 5%, engineering; 5%, math and science; and 5%, social sciences. About 20% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 55% remain to receive their degree.